A presentation by Don Asher
Tuesday, 14th January at 2pm: Elgin Town Hall
Don Asher’s talk was extremely popular and attracted a large audience, made up of 45 members, 13 guests and 9 new members, 67 in all. We had to fetch more chairs and double the number of tea cups!
Don began his presentation by examining and demolishing some of the myths about the Jacobite rebellions, perpetuated by books and films over the years, from Sir Walter Scott to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. They were not romantic, tartan adventures, nor were they an unimportant aberration in the onward progress of history. In fact they presented the most serious challenge to the Hanoverian establishment, and provoked both fear and panic in Scotland and south of the border. An outline of the rebellions followed, beginning with the revolt led by Bonnie Dundee in 1689, following the deposition of James II and the succession of William III and Mary, which ended in defeat at the Battle of Killiecrankie. In 1715 a short lived rebellion led by James Stuart, the Old Pretender, and the Earl of Mar, ended at the inconclusive battle of Sheriffmuir, and the subsequent surrender of the Jacobites. The most famous rebellion took place thirty years later in 1745, led by Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, which after initial successes and reaching as far south as Derby, was finally defeated at Culloden in 1746.
Both armies passed through Moray on their way to the final confrontation – the Jacobites headed north after the battle of Falkirk (the A9 route), while Cumberland and the government army came up the coast by the eastern (A96) route. There were skirmishes before the final battle, including at Keith, where the Jacobites took prisoners. The Prince stayed at Thunderton House in Elgin before the battle where he was entertained by Lady Arradoul. Legend has it that she kept his bed sheets until her death, when they were used for her shroud. Meanwhile at Brodie, Alexander the 19th laird remained neutral, but allowed government troops to camp in the castle grounds. Afterwards Elgin Town Council sent a message of congratulation to George II; the response to the Jacobite threat was very mixed in Moray as elsewhere.
One of the entertaining features of the talk was the portrait gallery of the most important figures in the rebellions. Members were asked if they could distinguish Jacobites from Government supporters. It proved surprisingly difficult ( I only managed to identify three – Bonnie Prince Charlie, Lord George Murray and Flora Macdonald).
An entertaining and informative afternoon. We will find out more about the Jacobites when we visit Culloden battlefield on 15th May.
Sara Marsh
21/01/25